Bus Interchanges among new smoke-free areas
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SINGAPORE : It's "No Smoking" for more public places from October 1.
What is your opinion of that. Personally, I think if bus interchanges are going to be air-conditioned in future, declaring them smoke-free is a good idea.
Smokers won't be able to light up at bus shelters and interchanges, public toilets, swimming complexes and stadiums and community clubs.
And details of a ban at entertainment outlets will be out by year-end.
That's not all - a decision on banning smoking at hawker centres and coffeeshops - will be made by the end of the year.
Second-hand smoke is a silent killer, said MPs, who wanted more protection for non-smokers.
Ms Indranee Rajah, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, said: "The problem with smoking is that it does not just affect the smoker, the second-hand cigarette smoke puts non-smokers at risk as well.
"Smoking is a tenacious and insidious form of chemical poisoning, it kills more slowly than other chemicals but no less surely. I therefore urge the minister to ban smoking at public places."
And the immediate reply was an extension of the ban to bus shelters and interchanges and other public areas.
Entertainment outlets can also expect this too, and there is strong public support for either a complete or partial ban.
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Environment & Water Resources Minister, said: "The danger is higher in entertainment outlets. In fact, a study in the journal of the American Medical Association has shown that the level of second-hand smoke in pubs and bars can be up to 450 percent higher than in homes with at least one smoker.
"In the long-run, my ministry's intent is to move towards allowing smoking only in private premises, wide-open spaces and designated smoking areas."
At the same time, Dr Yaacob said the Ministry recognises operators' concerns that the ban could affect business, so the National Environment Agency will hold consultations to address these concerns.
As for extending the ban to hawker centres and coffeeshops, Dr Yaacob said public feedback is supportive of a partial ban as a first step.
The ministry will work with the relevant hawkers and coffee shops associations and make a decision by yearend. - CNA -
Hmm..i guess its better to put all places.Originally posted by iveco:What is your opinion of that. Personally, I think if bus interchanges are going to be air-conditioned in future, declaring them smoke-free is a good idea. -
this is a very good move now the Bus Interchanges will be smoke-free and the air will be good
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Phew! Finally my lungs and I can heave a sigh of relief. I hate cigarette smoke: it's poison is deadlier than smoking itself! Good move there!
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I notice a lot of bus drivers smoke. How are they going to smoke if interchanges disallow smoking?
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That's their problem, not ours. The main peeve among commuters is people who light up while waiting for their bus, so bus stops were added too.Originally posted by t89z:I notice a lot of bus drivers smoke. How are they going to smoke if interchanges disallow smoking? -
Smoking is also a waste of money. It is better if the employees dun smoke
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Is it that the whole bus interchange is smoke-free? What about the NTWU canteen inside the bus interchange? Also smoke-free?Originally posted by t89z:I notice a lot of bus drivers smoke. How are they going to smoke if interchanges disallow smoking?
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Any suggestion for bus drivers to smoke at interchange when smoking is banned. Pity the bus drivers who drive 1 or 2 hours per trip and cannot smoke during break. The drivers should smoke without inconvenience the public.Originally posted by t89z:I notice a lot of bus drivers smoke. How are they going to smoke if interchanges disallow smoking? -
Maybe they can smoke in the bus bay where the buses are parked?Originally posted by t89z:Any suggestion for bus drivers to smoke at interchange when smoking is banned. Pity the bus drivers who drive 1 or 2 hours per trip and cannot smoke during break. The drivers should smoke without inconvenience the public.
They won't "smoke out" any commuters there? But beware of the hot sun... -
Why are u all making things seem so difficult? Just get a space and make it a smoking area for the BCs, maybe for public also. Isn't it solved?
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maybe can follow what SAF practises....smoking allowed inside "yellow boxes" only, other areas prohibited....lol
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Bus drivers smoking at bus bay risking to be knocked down by buses.Originally posted by my@jas:Maybe they can smoke in the bus bay where the buses are parked?
They won't "smoke out" any commuters there? But beware of the hot sun...